Does Marques Colston's deal impact Vincent Jackson's contract?

By now, you've heard the Bucs linked to San Diego star wideout Vincent Jackson, who becomes a free agent today at 4 p.m. We've heard from insiders who suggested to us he might earn a contract worth $12 million per year or more on the open market.

But the just-announced news that receiver Marques Colston has agreed to re-sign with the Saints for a reported five years and just less than $40 million -- less than $8 million per year -- might impact what Jackson can garner when he becomes a free agent.

Every team interested in Jackson will look to Colston's deal as a measuring stick of sorts for how much Jackson is worth. It definitely doesn't help Jackson that Colston's deal isn't as large as it might have been had he entered the open market and gone to the highest bidder.

Then again, Jackson's camp will argue that Jackson is a different -- and better -- player. Colston may or may not be a No. 1 receiver in another team's offense. Jackson, however, is more of a game-breaking threat and would arguably be a legitimate No. 1 in just about any offense.

Whatever the case, there could be some trickle-down effect from Colston's deal when Jackson hits the market later today.

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